It is 7:44 in the morning in Pennsylvania USA where I live. Across from my home is a tractor in the woods, chopping down trees for the placement of a new home or business. I began to hear the noise from the tractor around 7:00 AM. That’s what woke me up this morning. One of the first Fridays that I didn’t have to go to work but I am up nonetheless.
As I listen to the tractor cutting down the trees, it is almost symbolic of the romans cutting wood to make Jesus’s cross. I have to cry this morning thinking about what they did to Jesus. Jesus said, “father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Preachers keep saying that Jesus chose to die for us. I believe that it’s bigger and better than that. Jesus had to die for us be cause he is part of the triune God that we serve and the bible says that God is not a man that he should lie. If Jesus didn’t die on the cross to save us from sin hell and death, then he would be a liar amen? There wasn’t a decision. It was something that he purpose in his heart to do for us. God’s word says that it was pre- destined for him to commit such a loving act. I really wish that people would stop making it look like Jesus could have changed his mind and go to the coliseum to see a game instead. It was something that our big brother had to do. WWYD, what would you do? That is the question. Titus chapter one verse two says that God promised to give us Eternal life and he can not lie. God is not a man that he should lie. Hebrews six; 18. I personally don’t like it when people make it look like Jesus could have done differently. His flesh was not stronger than his spirit. Jesus’ spirit overpowered his flesh by a zillion times eternity. He promised to give us eternal life and a brand new beautiful world where the lion can lay down with the lamb. Also the children can walk with the wolves. I’m looking forward to that are you? God is no joke and people better stop playing with him.
My first question is “where are the men in this scene?” even Jesus’ earthly Father Joseph wasn’t at his death which some scholars have presumed dead by this time. Versed 25 of John 19 speaks of his mother, his , Mary Magdalene, and John the beloved which were the only ones mentioned as far as being by Christ’s side as he hung on the cross near death. John had laid his head on Jesus’ chest and knew his very heart beat, and was the only man left at his side according to the word. Are you like john? Do you know the heartbeat of Jesus? To know someone, to know of someone, and to love someone are three different things. In early Biblical text to know someone is usually mentioned as being a sexual act. Example: Joseph knew his wife Mary and they bore a son. Adam know his wife Eve and they bore a son. Abraham new Sarah and they bore a son. Today our word know, as we know it, is to have knowledge of someone in your mind as toward meeting them, having met them, or seen them at some point in your life, yet still having an extremely personal relationship with someone.
Notice that the one’s that knew Jesus left him! (Also, interesting information at John 6:66, notice the numbers. They left Jesus there too.) I am thinking by now “what would make them leave the master as He hung on the cross of Calvary for us?” Forgive me if I’m wrong but I believe that they were more concerned about their own lives and their own ministries instead. Jesus, only hung on the cross for 6 hours. They couldn’t have been hungry or needy of some bodily care. They could’ve had that “there’s nothing else we can do here” syndrome. They could’ve been afraid that they would be next. Who knows? The main concern here is that the left the Master Jesus. We need to check ourselves now and then to see if we are too busy with our own agendas to do God’s work and to pay attention to what it is that God may want us to do. Is what we do for god’s Glory or our own? Did the disciples ever think that Jesus may have wanted to breathe his last breath into them to carry on his work in the spirit? They lleft Dodge, they got ghost. We must be careful not to get a hardness of heart as the disciples did in Mark 16 verse 14. Jesus had to come back and reprove them like he did in Luke 9:41. “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and suffer you?” Remember that one?
Notice that John had sense and heard the heartbeat of Jesus. He stayed to see what was going to happen. He was concerned about the woman of God as well! After all, she was the first female preacher after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Women need to favor the Johns in their lives. Thought: you know, isn’t it just like Satan to distort the meaning of everything? He knew that the name John was going to be important to women throughout history some day so he purposefully used John’s name as a slang term in the world of prostitution which is predominantly female. What a slap in the face to men. And they don’t even realize that they’re supposed to be taking care of women, not abusing or dogging them.
This is a time of year where women excelled in ministry. Not to shun the men, because they are our heads and are covering of course. I don’t want women to get excited, we want to rebuke that old jezebel spirit as well, amen? You have to watch out for those so-called ministries that want to exist without any help from men. The do-it-yourselfers. Watch out for those women’s organizations that bash men in any type of way as well. It’s not of God.
In order to be a disciple of Christ one must carefully consider the death of Jesus Christ. Praise God for his resurrection, but you can’t have a resurrection without a death first. Jesus was our example and we too must have a death first in order to resurrect the new man in us. In order to get a good plant you must first bury the seed and it dies and then lives again. We must also bury that old flesh so that we can live in the spirit and be free. Who the son sets free is free indeed.
Christ is all knowing and omniscient. He cared for his mother. We see here the constancy of our lord and savior. After all he is our example. We are to be constant. We are to start things and finish them. If you have that problem, repent, start over and get ‘er done this time. Jesus saw his business through so much and so well that he took time out to assign another son to take care of his mother. He knew that this was going to be needed ahead of time. This was no surprise. I believe that is why john rested his head on the chest of Jesus, to get his assignment. To be on the same wavelength as Jesus without even knowing what was happening. John did it out of love. He loved Jesus and wasn’t worried about who thought what about the two of them. Do you love Jesus that much?
Jesus knew that this was going to be needed before anyone else did. I believe it was an act of transference. It was an initiation, a transference of Jesus anointing. And all along the disciples thought that it was just another dinner. God through a big blow out, food and all for this to event to happen. God was in control even as the disciples ate. Be informed that God is in control even as you eat. The power of God beat from Jesus chest to Johns ear and spiritually said to him, “you’ll be her son and she will be your mother.”
What does God whisper in your ear that you don’t even realize yet? What has his heartbeat whispered to your soul? All god’s promises should infiltrate your very being. This is why you must to rebuke the devourer. The enemy knows that your end is just your beginning but his end is his end. What doest thou believe?
Notice in John chapter 19:27 John took Mary unto his own home. Unto, means until, up, up to the time or when, a waiting place. Jesus knew that Mary needed a man’s covering. He knew that a possible bombardment was going to happen after his death. He left her a natural and spiritual covering. He wasn’t concerned as to whether or not John would pray for his mother. He knew that he would be a very help in a time of need. Mary was never without a son. See, women need that covering. We are not to be a lone ranger’s or the devil will sift us as wheat.
Only after the transference of the mother and son relationship does the bible saying that all things were accomplished. And only after the mother and son relationship through virgin, then pregnant Mary, at the stable was all things accomplished. Mary and Joseph took care of their baby that God gave them. Are you taking care of yours?
Jesus is the Accomplisher and only through him can we get anything done – correctly that is. That’s why you see so many people who die lonely, and lonely people die brokenhearted. They tried to accomplish life with everything but Jesus. Only those with the true relationship with Jesus die in peace/shalom. You look at them and you see their faces smiling at Death. “O death where is thy sting. O grave where is thy victory?”
“ Woman behold by son, behold by mother.”
Rev. Esther R. Scott
Originally are written O4/14/2006~ spoken at Nazareth Baptist Church Washington Pennsylvania 15301.
